~Tides of Grief~

Holding her tightly on their bed, Richard gently kissed Eleanor's hair as she sobbed endlessly against his chest. It had been almost two days since her Mother had died and the Duchess had not been able to cease her crying, apart from when she fed Bess and even then she had tears gliding down her cheeks.

It had surprised Richard when she had gone to him first in her grief. Not Elizabeth, not Anais or Marie. Him. And in truth, though he felt guilty admitting it even to himself, her coming to him had sparked a little bit of joy within his heart.

But he hadn't asked why or pressed her for a further explanation, instead Richard tried everything in his power to comfort her but she was not to be consoled and so he simply held her for as long as he could and for as long as she needed. He glanced at the door as he heard it open and frowned when he saw George slip into the room, a guilty look on his face.

He was about to order him away when Eleanor raised her head and spotted her brother in law, suddenly forcing herself to cease her sobbing, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her gown.

"What do you want, George?" She asked miserably as he approached the bed "have you come to gloat? Or to start another fight over Anne while I'm mourning my own mother?"

"No" he muttered, twisting his rings back and forth on his fingers "but I would like to speak to you....alone" he added the last word a little firmer and Richard frowned, immediately shaking his head, fully aware how his brother could twist the situation to his advantage.

"If you think for one moment...." he began only for Eleanor to gently lay a hand on his arm as she sat up.
"All is well" she uttered before nodding to their daughter's crib "take Bess....care for her while I speak to George" glancing between her and his brother, the Duke only nodded when she gave him a small push from the bed before rising herself and beginning to straighten her gown and fix her hair which had been left loose that day.

Walking over to her daughter's cradle, she gently lifted the sleeping girl from her covers and handed her to Richard, who immediately began to rock the child slowly back and forth in his arms.
"I will be in the next room" he announced sternly, shooting a look of warning at George before he left and Eleanor sat down by the fire.

"Well" she prompted curtly, watching warily as George sat opposite her "why are you here? If not to gloat"
"Why would I gloat?" He asked, still quite clearly on edge as if Eleanor were readying to pull a dagger on him "I'm here to offer you your victory"

"What victory?" Eleanor snapped, in no mood for any mystery before she thought "so this is about Anne!" George reluctantly nodded, well aware of how damaging his imminent admission would be to his own pride.

"I'm going to let you have her wardship, and that of her little brat too" he grunted, surprised when Eleanor gave a short laugh, though it was void of amusement of any kind, playing with the damp handkerchief she held.
"Let me?" She repeated "I'm sure you are fully aware I would have been awarded it weather you let me or not"

"Yes....well" George said quickly "I believe that in letting you have your little victory over me, much anguish can be avoided....while we have our differences, you are my friend, Leena....and I do not wish to cause you more grief than you are already suffering from" Eleanor's eyes widened slightly and she tilted her head, almost as if she were amused.

"Perhaps I should call Richard back in here?" She suggested lightly "I'm sure he would love to hear those words from your lips"
"Don't!" George pleaded, glancing over his shoulder to the door of the adjoining chamber before he once more tried to gain leverage in the discussion "besides....I....I have not said all of my terms"

"Terms?" Eleanor scoffed with a sigh "very well, George, what do you wish?"
"To see my child....Bella's child"
"No"

The Duchess rose from her seat at the same time as George, fervently shaking her head "no. Absolutely not. I know that times have passed but I swore to you that I would do everything I could to keep that child from you....and I will"

"But think!" George cried, reaching out and catching her arm, a note of desperation in his voice "I do not ask to have them in my care....but if I give you Anne and her baby then I want to see my child, I will not be kept from then any longer!"

"And what if I don't agree?" Eleanor snapped as she yanked her arm from the Duke's grip, stepping toward the window "you said that you do not want to cause me any more grief yet I have a feeling that if I refuse you will battle as long as it take to keep Anne and her child from me!"

George huffed in annoyance and anger, flopping down in his chair again. Reaching out he grabbed an empty goblet and began to play with the metal engravings that patterned the metal, wishing that it was filled to the brim with the strongest wine around.

"I don't want to cause you pain" he admitted "but in your mother's death I have been reminded of the importance of....family! There is no other way I can put it!"
"Family?" Eleanor repeated with a roll of her eyes "since when has that been a great concern of yours?"

"I've lost a Father" George muttered, almost thoughtfully "I've lost a brother and I've seen the pain the loss of your mother has caused you. My child, whomever they may be, has never known their Mother....I will not let them go through life not knowing their Father's love, I will not let them be alone" he glanced at Eleanor, plain emotion on his face, yet she still shook her head.

"You betrayed Bella" she replied, her voice almost a whisper "you have no right to her child, George but...."
"But" he prompted, sitting up slightly as hope entered his voice.

"If I....if I write to Bella....asking for her permission to let you see her child....then will you give Anne and little Isabel's warships over to me. No more arguing, no more protests?" He instantly nodded, rising from his chair and strolling to the window where he took her hand.

"You can have Anne and Isabel" he said "as long as I can see my baby"
"I can't promise that you will" Eleanor murmured, drawing her hand from his grip "only that once I reach the North I will write to my sister"

"She will say yes" George said firmly, his faith in Bella as strong as the day it had been set "I know she will" The Duchess looked doubtful but nodded all the same, actually unsure weather Bella would say yes or no to her request, still debating weather or not it was a request she should be making.

Little Eliza had been in a convent since her birth, neither Eleanor nor Elizabeth had seen her during that time (much to their guilt) but had always sent money to ensure she was more than comfortable, could keep a living that befitted the relation of royalty, bastard or not.

Numerous times, the Duchess had thought about going to visit the two year old but had never found the time to do so. Perhaps that time was now? Besides, had she not promised she would adopt the little girl as soon as she was able?

"Go George" she commanded softly, turning away "go to Edward and tell him that we have agreed on terms....that the matter of Anne and her child can be laid to rest"

Nodding, the Duke quickly left the chambers and Eleanor sighed, leaning against the wall until she heard a soft giggle come from the opposite end of the chamber. Looking up, a small smile curved the corners of her lips as she saw Richard walking towards her, Bess in his arms. The baby was smiling, holding our her chubby hands to her mother and squealing in delight when Eleanor embraced her, crooning endearments in English and French.

"Have things been settled?" Richard asked with a tilt of his head, sighing in relief when his wife nodded.
"Yes" she replied, gently bobbing Bess up and down in her arms "but now....I want you to take me and Bess home. I want us to go to the North as soon as we can"

A smile lit up Richard's features and he leant forward, gently kissing Eleanor as he searched her eyes for sincerity.
"Truly?" He asked, his smile growing wider as she nodded, brushing her lips against their daughter's cheek.

"It is what my Mother would have wanted"

꧁꧂

Watching with a smile from her armchair as Bess slept soundly on her father's chest, Eleanor found her hand playing with the charm around her neck.

The charm that contained the curse to kill George.

Making sure that Richard was also asleep, she opened the locket, the familiar click of the metal latch sending a bolt of uncertainty through her heart, and slowly took out the piece of paper inside, frowning at the words written in blood.

She sighed, thinking of all those who had already been harmed by the magic that she and her kin possessed. Truly, it seemed to have done nothing but harm. The curse had been made when she had been young, foolish, eager for revenge on behalf of Bella and kin.

But now, now she was not sure. Had not been for a long time. After all, the same magic that had been laid down to kill George had taken her mother. The magic of Melusina. What good had it done? What had been achieved but revenge and pain in using it? Apart from the securing of little Bess?

In truth, Eleanor no longer wanted George to die. She still held an amount of anger and dislike towards him and always would. She would never be able to truly forgive him for what he had done to Bella, the part he had played in her brother and father's deaths, nor for his treatment of Anne and her child.

But did she want his entire line cursed to die?

This curse had already resulted in the death of one baby at her hands and had she not sworn to herself that she would never again be responsible for the death of an infant?

Yes, she knew what had to be done. It had to be ended.

Rising from her chair, she could hear Elizabeth's wrath already, the betrayal that would reflect itself in her very soul if she ever found out about her sister's actions. The knowledge that she was about to betray her sister made her vision blur slightly with stinging tears as she raised her hand a little, crumpling the parchment between her fingers.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, unable to look as she tossed the small scrap into the flames, destroying the paper and the curse along with it. Without it the curse could not live on. George was safe. His children were safe.

And Eleanor was a traitor to her family.
"Never again shall I use my magic" she whispered, a solemn promise to herself. One she was determined to keep "never again"

Shaking her head slightly, she jumped a little as she felt Richard's hands slide around her waist, momentarily fearing that he had seen or heard her. But as he lowered his lips to her neck, brushing her hair aside, she was relieved to realise he was none the wiser.

"Come back to sleep" he murmured softly against her ear and she nodded, letting him lead her to their bed. Lifting Bess as gently as she could, Eleanor held her breath as she lay down beside her husband, terrified of waking the sleeping babe.

But Elizabeth did not wake, simply stretched slightly before she curled up on her Mother's chest, her thumb placed firmly in her mouth.
"We will be in the North soon" Eleanor mumbled sleepily as she cuddled closer to Richard "and we will be safe"

꧁꧂

June 1472....

"Do we have everything?" Eleanor called over her shoulder as she looked around her rooms which were now bare of all she and Richard's belongings.

"I think so, your grace. Lady Anne and her babe are already awaiting in the carriage" Marie replied with a smile, curtsying as she handed her lady the pair of gloves she had requested and quickly walked around the chamber, searching for any missed items.

Sighing a little, Eleanor nodded and walked from her chambers for the final time, taking Bess from Anais as she headed out into the hallway.
"Are you well, sweeting?" She asked the little girl as she adjusted the embroidered bonnet that covered the baby's copper curls. Bess merely grinned up at her mother, one of her little hands reaching out to catch a pearl sewn to the bodice of her dress.

Patting the white oval she gave a small gurgle of delight that made Eleanor's heart swell with love and hold her a little tighter as she walked along the corridors. The Duchess found she adored the way that little Bess was a mix of both of her parents, held both Richard and Eleanor in her rounded face.

Her hair and complexion belonged to her Mother, as did the grin she was coming to possess, one of mischief and excitement but her blue eyes were distinctly her Father's. Eleanor chuckled as Richard's eyes stared at her through their child before Bess gave a little sneeze and she squeezed her eyes shut, her nose wrinkling a little.

Elizabeth held her parent's hearts and always would. She was their little darling, their dearest one and always would be. It did not matter that she was not a boy, was not a male heir to carry on the Gloucester line, they loved her and would cherish her until the day they died.

"How's our darling girl?" Richard asked as Eleanor entered the courtyard, accepting the affectionate kiss that he pressed to her cheek with a smile.

"She is well" she replied while he lifted Bess into his arms, grinning widely at her as he gently tapped her button nose and chuckled at her squeal of delight. It was clear to all how much he adored her and both Anais and Marie found themselves smiling as they observed the Duke and his daughter.

"Perhaps we should marry little Bess to the Dauphin of France? If she proves to be anything like her Mother I think she would suit the crown of a Queen!" Edward's loud voice suggested as he strolled into the courtyard, Elizabeth on his arm, though her spirits were clearly low, a sad smile on her face. As the two brothers greeted each other and fussed over Bess, she reached out to her sister and brought her close, leaning their foreheads against one others.

"Oh how I will miss you, Leena" she whispered "my one true ally, my closest friend and dearest sister"
"Just as I shall miss you" Eleanor replied, taking Elizabeth's hands and squeezing them "but we will not be apart forever! How could we? Besides, I've let Lizzie keep Fortuna as a consolation for my going away so that shall serve as a reminder of me?"

Nodding a little, the Queen drew away and sighed heavily as she looked her little sister up and down, one hand gently touching the golden necklace that hung around the Duchess' neck. The latest gift from her husband.
"You are a woman" she said, a note of pride in her voice, though also a tone of firmness that made Eleanor believe her sister was speaking more to herself, trying to ease their separation "a mother, a Duchess, a leading lady of the land!"

"But I will always, always be your sister first" She reassured her "the little girl that followed you around Grafton Manor shall always be with us, be with you"

"In my heart and mind" Elizabeth agreed, a nostalgic smile appearing on her face as she remembered the little girl Eleanor had once been, hiding behind oak trees to spy on the King of England. How much she had grown during the eight long years since that first meeting, how much had passed. How much she had gained and how much she had lost.

"Sweetheart?" Richard murmured as he slipped an arm around Eleanor's waist, ending the sisters private farewells "it's time to begin"
"Of course it is!" Elizabeth said, forcing a smile onto her face and a joy she did not feel into her voice "though if you are not careful your little Bess may be kept here!"

The three laughed as they looked toward the King who was holding the baby, was pointing out the different birds that flew over the place and grinning when she giggled. Walking to her horse, Eleanor allowed Richard to lift her into her saddle before he walked to his own beside hers and smiled.

Rather reluctantly, Edward handed Bess to Marie and helped her into the carriage that also carried Anais, Anne and Isabel on the long journey North.
"I will miss you, Leena!" He called as he walked to the Duchess' horse and patted her hand "I won't deny it!"

"As I will miss you!" She replied warmly with a nod "we have had our moments, have we not, Edward?"
"We have" he laughed "though I will always remember you as the little redhead that I caught peering at me from behind a tree, ma petite boule de feu"

The call of a trumpet made the pair look to the front and Eleanor suddenly felt a knot of nerves tie itself in her stomach as the first of the luggage wagons began to move out of the palace.
"Write to me" she said hurriedly, knowing she too would soon be away from Westminster "when Elizabeth is next with child....I want to be here for the birth....it will be difficult without our mother here"

"Of course" Edward said with a promising nod, a rare look of sincerity crossing his face "you shall be the first to know"

Smiling gratefully, Eleanor looked past the King and lifted her hand to wave to Elizabeth as she nudged her horse into motion and her journey began. A journey to a new life. A new home. And a new adventure.

"To the North" Richard announced, the familiar childish excitement entering his voice and shining in his eyes "to home"
"To home" Eleanor repeated softly, looking back one last time over her shoulder and finding tears fill her eyes as she watched Elizabeth's figure fade into the distance.